Seaspan Tugboats in Port Metro Vancouver

Port Metro Vancouver was formerly called the Port of Vancouver. This Port is the main west coast entry point for products into Canada. There are over 90 trading countries coming through Port Metro Vancouver.

Port Metro Vancouver is the largest in Canada, the 5th largest in North America and the 50th largest in the World.

With such a busy port it is good that we have world class tugboats that maneuver the huge freighters that unload their goods.

Seen in the picture are the Seaspan Eagle and the Seaspan Osprey. These tugboats are super powerful with up to 6300 horsepower.

It's nice to know that a world class port has world class equipment.

Transit Fare Evaders

Translink has reported that over 230 million dollars of revenue was lost since the year 2000, due to transit fare evasion. This amounts to 5 - 6 % of Translink's budget.

The kicker is that even when a person is caught evading the fare and is fined $173 there is no system in place to enforce payment. The Provincial government reported that they did not even know that no system was in place to enforce payment of the $173 fine.

Doesn't this just reek of Translink's inability to run a proper mass public transit system? When 5 - 6% equates to $230 million loss doesn't that make the board of Translink responsible to fix the problem? Any large private corporation would surely search for serious solutions and not lose this money.

Apparently being efficient and responsible with taxpayers money is not a mandate Translink shares.

Memphis Blues BBQ House

Do you remember the "Not Just Desserts" cafe located by Broadway and Commercial drive in Vancouver? The bruschetta was the best I'd ever tasted, the desserts were to die for and the coffee was great. The owners decided to retire and sell, and it went downhill from there.

Well, with the success of Not Just Desserts under his belt, one of the owners of Not Just Desserts paired up with a partner and started the Memphis Blues BBQ House restaurant. It's got such a great reputation that people from the US when visiting Vancouver make Memphis Blues BBQ House a must see.

Yesterday I sold off some old junk jewelry and with the proceeds decided to take my family to Memphis Blues BBQ House, as I had never gone there before.

The restaurant is located at 1342 Commercial Drive. We had a lunch meal called "The Elvis Platter". This is a gigantic platter. It is big enough to feed 6 - 8 people, there were only 4 of us. Needless to say we took the leftovers home. The southern comfort food style of this restaurant is great. The food selection is good. If you're a vegan this is not the restaurant for you.

Now to the nuts and bolts. How was the food? Well the sausage was good and the fries were good. The rest of the meat, chicken, ribs and beef was dry and overcooked. The potato salad and the coleslaw needed more seasoning. The cooked beans seemed "old".

Wow, now that doesn't sound like a great review does it? To be honest my wife and I were really disappointed. In hindsight we should have said something to the staff but we didn't. Our fault.

I would give our visit to this restaurant a disappointing 6 out of 10.

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

Metro Vancouver loves it's cars inspite of Translink's efforts to get people to get out of their cars and use transit. Vancouver is host to the 3rd largest auto show in Canada.

The Vancouver International Auto show is happening from April 3 - 8 at the newly renovated BC Place Stadium.

Featured at this years Vancouver International Auto Show are the new Electric cars from many different car manufacturers.

MoneySense rates Vancouver

MoneySense magazine has rated Vancouver the 56th best place to live in Canada. Vancouver used to be rated as the "Best Place on Earth". What happened?

With the fame and popularity Vancouver received during Expo 86 and the 2010 Winter Olympics, have also come the problems of overpriced housing, elevated crime levels, highest parking rates, highest food and shopping prices and impersonal neighborhoods.

Vancouver has marketed itself so well that now the wealthy elites from other countries are owning and running our city. Metro Vancouver has become too expensive for the majority of people who made Vancouver such a wonderful place.

Decades ago Vancouver was filled with young multi-ethnic families working hard and contributing to their neighborhoods, community life and the city. The recent out of country rich come with money but no sense of wanting to be part of the community. This is a sad transfiguration of a once great city.

Granville Island Market

Granville Island Market is a real gem of Vancouver. Situated on False Creek it sits in the middle of Vancouver snuggled among Condo towers, protected waterfront and in the shadow of the mountains.

You can find organic foods, artisans, coffee shops and an eclectic assortment of businesses to interest everyone.

During the warmer months you will find a quality assortment of street entertainment. Sit and watch the boats go by while eating your lunch.

If you're visiting Vancouver make sure that Granville Island Market is on your "to do" list.

Visit Granville Island Market

Is Your Food Safe?

Vancouver and Richmond are excellent places to dine on international cuisine. If you're looking to buy food to create your own special dishes this is the place to be.

We're lucky to be in BC, because our BC Agriculture Council has set some of the highest standards for food safety and quality.

Garnet Estell, President of the BC Agriculture Council is quoted,
"We have food safety programs in Canada and BC that are second to none..."

The problem comes when we get our food from other countries. Many countries do not share our passion or concern for food safety.

The Vancouver Sun reported that US Centers for Disease Control found that of all imported foods causing illness in the US almost 45% came from Asia and most of it was seafood.

What this means for us is simple, BUY LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOD when possible. Obviously not all our food can be grown or produced locally so then be diligent in checking it's freshness and how it's been stored and displayed.

If you've ever had food poisoning you'll appreciated these food tips.

EAT SAFE!

Distracted Driving

Distracted Driving is the new pen name for this who chose to text or hold and talk on a cellphone while driving.

Come on admit it, you've done this as well. Vancouver is loaded with bad examples of people texting and driving.

The consequences can be catastrophic. Vancouver's deputy police chief rear ended a car while talking on the cellphone. Worse yet a Montreal girl died while texting and driving by rear ending a truck.

I guess everyone thinks that they'll be safe while "distracted driving". But as we can see distracted driving can have terrible consequences.

Use your head so you won't end up dead!

Who Blows There?

Who Blows There?
It seems that Father Winter let out a big sneeze!
Vancouver and southern BC was hit with a windstorm yesterday. In the Vancouver area, the winds reached up to 90 km/h.

This windstorm was not as bad as the one Vancouver experienced in 2006 which blew down over 40 hectares of forest.

Yesterdays storm did cause some damage to homes hit with fallen trees. Street closures included 49th avenue due to a fallen tree. Some power outages happened with most occurring in Surrey.

Our beautiful "green" city with all it's forested land is vulnerable to natures wrath when it comes to such storms.

Vancouver Problems

My blog description tells you that I don't just cover the good stuff of Vancouver but also the bad. Here's some bad of Vancouver.

Yesterday my wife and I went for a Sunday afternoon stroll in our east Vancouver neighborhood. Our nice walk was cut short because of a young man carrying a machete. Fortunately we were not injured and I believe police are still looking for the offender.

Police did find the machete, it had a broken handle. Seems like it was used in some kind of attack.

For us it's just another day in paradise!

CELTICFEST IS BACK

Hey, don't forget Celticfest Vancouver is back again this year. The exciting St. Patrick's day parade is on March 18th.

The festival runs from March 10th to 18th.

www.celticfestvancouver.com

There is something for everyone's budget at the Celtic Village. Check it out!

RIOT roundup 2

"On June 15, 2011, Vancouver suffered the largest crime spree in it's history."

This is a quote from the Busted Riot Roundup 2 brochure. It seems like getting all the idiots identified and convicted is quite a challenge. I feel all those who participated in the criminal acts at the Stanley Cup riots should do prison time!

If you want to help check the website: www.riot2011.vpd.ca
or call:
604-717-9999.

Beautiful Vancouver

It's March 6th and Vancouver is showing it's beautiful side once more. Much rain has turned into crisp and sunny days, at least for now.

The photo was taken from the Nanaimo Skytrain station. The north shore mountains are the Lions, Brunswick, Grouse and Seymour.